The Belgian Malinois is a working dog breed. It was originally bred around the town of Malines for sheep herding and protecting the farm and livestock. It was recognized by the AKC in 1959.
It is smart, proud, high energy and loyal. It is a muscular, large dog with a strong bite. It is highly trainable and has become well-known for police, military, search and guard work.
This breed is very active and will thrive on lots of regular and varied physical exercise and mental stimulation. Problems may arise if this smart, people-oriented dog is underemployed or neglected. It may become destructive.
While the breed may be loyal and good with children, it is not the family pet for everyone. It does not have the soft mouth or temperament of for example a labrador retriever. It requires a big time commitment to training and exercise.
The thick coat colors range from a rich fawn to mahogany. The black ears and mask accentuate the dark chocolate eyes.
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